ISIS threatens to ‘slaughter’ controversial blogger Geller, warns of more attacks to come

ISIS has reportedly issued a menacing online message, singling out US blogger Pamela Geller as the terrorist group’s target. The message also claims the jihadists are planning new attacks and they have “71 trained fighters in 15 states.”

The controversial anti-Islamist blogger earned the ire of the
Islamic State (also known as ISIS, or ISIL) for creating an art
exhibition in Texas that encouraged the public to draw cartoons
of the Prophet Mohammed.

The threat was posted on the JustPasteIt forum, which is favored
by the IS and its supporters. The message said that Geller, or
anyone who “hides or hosts her,” would become
“legitimate targets” for IS militants. The terrorist
group also said they would send jihadists to “achieve her
slaughter.”

The message said that the attack by ISIS was only the
“beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah in the heart
of our enemy.” However, the writers incorrectly spelt the
world “wilayah,” which means authority or governance in
Arabic, the New York Daily News reports.

The post, which has not been verified by independent sources,
also added that the group had “71 trained soldiers in 15
different states ready at our world to attack.” Virginia,
Maryland, Illinois, California and Michigan were specifically
mentioned as states where IS militants were operating.

The message also said 23 “fighters” had allegedly signed
up to take part in “missions,” which would be similar to
Sunday’s attempted terror attack in Garland, Texas, which ISIS
claimed responsibility for.

The gunmen, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, who were roommates
from Phoenix, both died in the attack, something the writers of
the note said they were expecting, as they knew the event would
be well protected. It later emerged that the organizers spent
$10,000 on making sure the event would be safe.

"Our intention was to show how easy we give our lives for the
Sake of Allah," the post said.

In response to the threats, Geller said she would step up her own
public security, though declined to comment further on the issue.
She did leave a small reply to the post on her website in which
she spoke of the need to “stand up for the freedom of
speech,” adding that the threat “illustrates the
savagery and barbarism of the Islamic State.”

“They want me dead for violating Sharia blasphemy laws,”
Geller said. “What remains to be seen is whether the free
world will finally wake up and stand for the freedom of speech,
or instead kowtow to this evil and continue to denounce me.”

The American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), which is led by
Geller, organized the event in Texas, entitled “Mohammed Art
Exhibition and Contest.” She said she wanted to create it
following the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris in January after
the satirical magazine had published cartoons of the Prophet.

Following the shooting, Geller, who has been behind a series of
anti-Hamas adverts displayed on transportation networks across
the US, wrote a statement on her website saying: "This is war
on free speech."